Folding or collapsible sled.



W. H. COLEMAN. FOLDING 0E GOLLAPSIBLE SLED. APPLIUATIOH I'ILBD MAB. 24, 1009.

htented 0013.26, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFKQE.

WILLIAM H. COLEMAN, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILKINSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BINGI-IAMTON, NEW YORK.

FOLDING OR COLLALPSIBLIE. SLED.

Specification of Letters Extent. Application filed March 24, 1909.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909. Serial No. 485,461.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that T, \VILLIAM H. Com.- nxx, citizen of the United States, residing at llinghamton, New York, have invented certain new and useful l nprovements in lfolding or Collapsible Sleds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in sleds of the type shown in an application tiled by me in the United States Patent ()tlice March 3, 1905 Serial Number -t8l0l9. In this application I disclosed a collapsible sled, or one in which the runners fold inwardly under the seat so as to be conveniently carried. and one of the important features of novelty and utility consisted in a.

brace rod extending across between the ruin net's at their front ends, having pivotal conuectiou therewith so as to permit the folding of the parts without diminishing the cffectiveness of the rod in its bracing action.-

In the present improvement I have utilized the same brace rod, but in connection not ma na the collapsible feature but with steering means.

In this connection I do not limit myself to the present improvement as applied to a collapsible sled, as I may utilize the steering feature of the present case with the sled not collapsible if this should be found desirable.

in the drawing. Figure l is a bottom view ol the sled with one of the runners partially t-ollapsd or folded inwardly. Fig. 2 is a front view, Fig. 3 is a section on line l1 of Fig. l.

The t'rameiit the sled is composed of slide bars a, runners I), and intermediate metal knees r. The side bars (I are securely bolted to the knees and to the turned up forward end of the runner. 'lhe collapsible sections comprising the side bars, runners and knees are pivotatly -onnected through metallic straps (l, to cross bars (niches under the tension of springs (1 serve to keep the collapsible sections in position and to prevent collapsing normally, the catches f having notched ends engaging a staple It se cured to the cross bar. ()bviously any other form of catch may be substituted for the one shown. The cross bars c serve to sup port the seat section made in one or more pieces and shown at In order to eti'cct the steering of the sled it is necessary to have the runner sections flexible so that they will be ailowed a limited amount of lateral movement to change the direction or course of the sled. In order to secure this eficct the seat section is secured to the center and rear cross pieces 6, but not to the front cross piece, simply resting upon this pieces and this gives greater tiexibiity to the runners as they extend to a considerable distance beyond the forward cross piece and their first connection is with the center cross piece, so that there is nothing but the resistance of the side bars and metal runners to resist the lateral movement.

A clip is is secured to each runner near the upper end beneath the side bar, and each clip supports a pivot serving as a connection for the ends of a brace bar in. The pivotal connection permits the folding of the runner sections in my application referred to. The brace bar in the present case I form with an ofl'set n, strengthened by a section of metal 0, and this offset serves to support a steering bar 79, extending beyond the sides of the sled and having suitable hand grips so as to permit the operator to move the front of the sled from side to side to direct its course. Straps y extend between the steering bar and the projecting part of the seat as shown at '1', the straps being pivotally connected at their rear end to the seat extension and rigidly secured to the steering bar. This connection serves to give a purchase for the steering bar in the throwing of the sled runners from side to side.

I do not limit myself to a sled having its runners collapsible as the steering mechanism may be applied to a non-collapsible sled with equally good effect though it will not; be as complete an article.

It will be observed that the brace bar in is secured to the runners below the top of the sled and this gives me a greater purchase upon the runner sections through the medium of the steering bar.

\Vhat I claim is:

In a sled, collapsible runner sections, cross bars supporting the same, a seat, a connection extending between the front of the runners and a steering bar supported thereby, substantially as described. 7

In testimony whereof, I attix my signature I in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM H. COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

Gno. L. NELSON, THOMAS J. MANGAN. 

